Brassiere



av. 30, 1948. BQYL-AN 2,455,036

BRASSIERE Filed March 22, 1946 I INVENTOR. 67 .5) 4. .BOKLJ/V Patented Nov. 30, 1948 BRAssrERE Gypsy A. Boylan, Rocky River, Ohio Application March 22, 1946, SerialNo. 656,271.

3 Claims.

1 Thisinvention relates to a womans'apparei, more particularly a brassire. 1 All apparel, commonly referred to as brassieres,

of which I have knowledge, usually consist of straps orribbons so connected to the front portions or cups and each other that during bodily movements of the wearer certain of' the straps are put under tension and hence cut into the shoulders of the wearer and/or bind her diaphragm and otherwise cause discomfort; other forms of the apparel include a body fitting portion extending around or above the wearers waist, forming in effect a sort of stayless semi-corset. In these types of apparel, the straps or other portions of the apparel must be buckled or hooked together each time the apparel is donned. Also,

aside from the undue amount of material employed, the added weight must be largely supported by the wearers shoulders and the straps and other parts of the apparel must closely fit the wearer's body. Where the apparel closely fits the wearers bust considerable discomfort results from bodily movement of the arms and/or shoulders on the part of the wearer.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved brassirewherein a minimum amount 'of material is required, and consisting of breast cups and supporting straps therefor connected to the cups and each other to permit freedom of bodily movement on the part of the wearer without discomfort, while maintaining a substantially uniform tension between all portions of the supporting straps and the wearers body,

whereby danger of the shoulder engaging porduring bodily movement of the wearer is avoided,

to insure the wearers comfort and at thezsame time maintain the cups or bust members. of'the brassirein permanent position.

Another object of the invention isto provide a brassiere of simple construction, the supportin straps of which are connected together to permit their automatic adjustment, one relative tothe other, during bodily movement of the wearer,

whereby stresses on the body of the wearer due to tension on either strap and displacement of either strap are eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved brassiere of simple construction having apair of straps forming the sole support for the bust members of the brassire and a floating connection between the straps, the connections of the straps with the bust members and with each other being related to prevent displacement of the float connection, whereby, during bodily movement of the wearer, the straps aremaintained in normal'position and a belt or connections with each other garments worn by the wearer are eliminated.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved brassiere having a pair of supporting straps form ng the sole support for the breast members of the brassire and connected thereto and each other for adaptation to the backs of wearers of varying sizes, whereby economy in manufacture results and the distributors need for carrying a stock of many different sizes of brassieres is reduced.

Other-objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is an elevation View of a brassiere embodying'my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the brassiere in position on a, wearer.

Fig. 3 is a rear view.

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3 but showing the position of the supporting straps or ribbons during bodily movement of the wearer.

Fig. 5-is a fragmentary view showing the float connection between the supporting straps or ribbons, enlarged.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view showing the adjustable connection between one of the straps or ribbons with the extension on one of the bust members.

Fig. '7'is a fragmentary view showing a modified arrangen'ient of the supporting straps.

Fig. 8 is-an elevation view, corresponding to that of; Fig; 1', but showing-the Fig. 7 embodiment ofthe invention.

In the drawing, 2', indicate the breast members or cups of suitable construction and formed of any'desired' material dependent on the use of the brassire, each member being provided with areinforced sideedge la. Each member I, 2, may be round, but is shown as of approximate triangular shape having a base lb and sides 10. forming an apex id at their upper ends. The inner sides lcof the-members l, 2, are connected together by a web 3. The outer side to of each cup- I, 2, preferably adjacent the base lb, is provided with any extension-,4, adapted to extend around the side of the wearers body. 5, 6, indicate supporting straps or ribbons, the strap or ribbon being connected to the apices id of the cups I, 2, and its intermediate portions being arranged to extend over the shoulders of the wearer and the other strap or ribbon 6 being connected to the free ends of the extensions 4 and arranged to extend across the back of the wearer. Where the cup members I, 2, are substantially round, the opposite ends of the strap are connected thereto centrally of their upper edges. As shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 5, a floating connection is provided between the straps 5, 6, intermediate their opposite ends, which connection permits automatic adjustment of each strap relative to the other strap as a result of bodily movement of the wearer. The floating connection consists of a member 1 through which each strap 5, 5, is reeved and is adapted to freely slide endwise. The member 7 preferably consists of a ring the wall of which in cross section is rounded throughout its circumference. The strap 6 operates through the ring I to hold the back engaging portions of the strap. 5 in position and as both straps 5, 6, freely slide endwise through the ring and the latter is free to move (being unattached to any garment of the wearer), both straps readily adjust themselves relative to each other and the body of the wearer due to pull or tension on either or both straps when bodily movement of the wearer takes place. Accordingly, substantially equal tension on both straps, between the apices id and extensions l is maintained at all times and danger of the ring being displaced into an inoperative position is eliminated. As the extensions t are relatively wide and lie flat against the wearers body and these extensions and the straps are formed of fabric materials, the lateral portions of the strap 6 are capable of movement when put'under tension,

without affecting the position of the cup members I, 2. It will be observed that the straps 5, l5, extend into and through the ring ll from opposite sides thereof, so that the tension of the straps operates in opposite directionson the upper and lower portions of the ring 7 and hence the straps cooperate to maintain the ring in vertical position and flat against the wearers back. Each strap 5, 6,consists of a long section fixed at its inner end to one of the cups, as already set forth,

and a short section 8 fixed at its inner end to the free end of the adjacent extension the free ends of the sections and extensions l being adjustably connected by a suitable buckle or other type of friction device 9, or hooks and eyes. It will be observed that the long and short sections of the straps 5, 6, may be formed entirely of elastic material, but by preference the short sections 8 and the end portions of straps which are fixed to the cups and the adjacent extension 4 are formed of elastic material, as shown at 8a.

Fig. 8 illustrates a modified form of construction consisting of cups I, 2', having sides la, la, and a base lb, and two straps 5, 6', the strap 5' being fixedly connected to the extension 4' on,

the cup I and adiustably: connected to the elastic section 8' which is connected to the apex id of the cup 2' and the strap t being fixedly connected to the apex id of the cup I and adjustably connected to the-elastic section 8' which is connected to the extension 4' on the cup 2. The straps 5', 8', extend through and freely slide endwise in a ring i to permit their relative adjustment in the manner already set forth.

In use, the brassire is first applied to a wearer 4 and by means of the device 9, the sections of the straps 5, B, are adjusted to fit the wearer. These sections of the straps 5, 6, remain connected and thereafter the brassiere may be donned by positioning both straps over the wearers head and projecting the wearers arms between them, removal of the brassire being afiected in the reverse direction. By employing two supporting straps only for the cups 1, 2, and providing an adjustable connection for each strap, a predetermined size of brassire may be worn by persons whose back widths vary in size, so that in manufacture a multitude of different sized brassieres is not required.

While I have described the apparel as a brassire, it is obvious that it may be formed of suitable material and employed as a halter as part of a bathing suit.

To those skilled in the art to which my invention relates many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments of the invention will be apparent without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. My-disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

What I claim is:

i. A garment of the class described comprising a pair of cup members connected together at their inner sides, strap members connected at their opposite ends to the top and outer side portions of said cup members, the end portions of the strap members adjacent to their connections to the top portions of the cup members being adapted to extend over the shoulders of a wearer for supporting the garment, and a connecting member through which the intermediate portions of said strap members extend, said connecting member having a single opening and being of circular shape and rounded throughout to permit said strap members to slide freely endwise through said connecting member independ ently of each other and equalize the tension on said strap members during bodily movement of the wearer.

2. A garment of the class described comprising a pair of cup members connected together at their inner sides, an upper strap member connected to the top portion of each cup member, a lower strap member connected to the outer side portion of each cup member, portions of the upper strap member on each side of its intermediate portion being adapted to extend over the shoulders of a wearer for supporting the garment, and a con necting member through which the intermediate portions of the strap members extend, said connecting member having a single opening and being of circular shape and rounded throughout to permit said strap members to slide freely endwise through said connecting member independently of each other and equalize the tension on said strap members during bodily movemen of the wearer.

3. A garment of the class described comprising a pair of cup .members connected together at their inner sides, a pair of strap members each connected to the top portion of one of the cup members and to the outer side portion of the other cup member, with portions of the strap members being adapted to extend over the shoulders of a wearer for supporting the garment and with the intermediate portions of the strap members crossing each other at a point below the level of said shoulders, and a connecting member through which said intermediate portions of the strap members extend, said connecting member having a single opening and being of circular shape and rounded throughout to permit said strap members to slide freely endwise through said connecting member independ- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the" file of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Yonts Sept. 12, 1933 Tait Apr. 23, 1935 Kemp Nov. 26, 1935 Kemp May 2, 1939 Samuels June 24, 1941 

